"Egg sucking leech The egg-sucking leech is an artificial fly used in fly fishing. Its name comes from its resemblance to a leech in the process of consuming a fish egg. The body of the lure is dark-colored like a leech, often black or purple, and the tip of the lure is bright red or orange to look like a small rounded fish egg. It is effective for catching fish which might be interested in prey items such as leeches. It is popular for steelhead fishing. This fly can be used to capture salmon, trout, bass, pike, and many other"
"Strongylus vulgaris Strongylus vulgaris (large strongyles), commonly known as the blood worm, is a common horse parasite in the phylum Nematoda. It looks like a long worm with a large biting mouth. They are usually reddish in color because of all the blood they take from the equine host. This nematode is considered to be one of the ""most pathogenic"" of the large strongyles subphylum and is distributed worldwide, wherever there are grassland and temperate environments. During the infective stage of the S. vulgaris life cycle, the larvae that have matured in the intestinal tract of the horse will migrate"
"""Brugia malayi"", and ""Brugia timori"", with ""Wuchereria bancrofti"" being the most common. These worms damage the lymphatic system. The disease is diagnosed by microscopic examination of blood collected during the night. The blood is typically examined as a smear after being stained with Giemsa stain. Testing the blood for antibodies against the disease may also permit diagnosis. Other roundworms from the same family are responsible for river blindness. Prevention can be achieved by treating entire groups in which the disease exists, known as mass deworming. This is done every year for about six years, in an effort to rid a"
"in length. If one simply pulls off the protruding head of the worm, the worm will break and leak high levels of foreign antigen which can lead to anaphylactic shock and fast death of the host. Hence it is important to remove the worm slowly (over a period of weeks). This is typically undertaken by winding the worm onto a stick (say, a matchstick), by a few centimetres each day. The best known species is ""D. medinensis"", known commonly as the Guinea worm. This parasite is frequently found in the subcutaneous tissues and muscles of humans, dogs, and sometimes cattle"
"of the time of day must be observed. Blood must be drawn at appropriate times, which reflect the feeding activities of the vector insects. Examples are ""W. bancrofti"", whose vector is a mosquito; night is the preferred time for blood collection. ""Loa loa's"" vector is the deer fly; daytime collection is preferred. This method of diagnosis is only relevant to microfilariae that use the blood as transport from the lungs to the skin. Some filarial worms, such as ""M. streptocerca"" and ""O. volvulus"", produce microfilarae that do not use the blood; they reside in the skin only. For these worms,"
"blood meal. In the intermediate host, the microfilariae molt and develop into third-stage (infective) larvae. Upon taking another blood meal, the vector insect injects the infectious larvae into the dermis layer of the skin. After about one year, the larvae molt through two more stages, maturing into the adult worms. Filariasis is usually diagnosed by identifying microfilariae on Giemsa stained, thin and thick blood film smears, using the ""gold standard"" known as the finger prick test. The finger prick test draws blood from the capillaries of the finger tip; larger veins can be used for blood extraction, but strict windows"
"or filtration through a Nucleopore® membrane. Serology is not very useful for diagnosis. Because the adult worms live mainly in pleural and peritoneal cavities, they are only rarely observed. At times, they can be observed during a laparotomy. ""M. perstans"" often occurs with other filarial infections, such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. It should be distinguished from ""Microfilaria semiclarum"" (a parasite of animals which sometimes causes accidental infections in humans). Sometimes, confusion is possible if the blood smear is randomly infected during or after preparation with a mould such as ""Helicospora"". This organism, however, is considerably smaller and thinner than"
"Glycera (annelid) The genus Glycera is a group of polychaetes (bristle worms) commonly known as bloodworms. They are typically found on the bottom of shallow marine waters, and some species (e.g. common bloodworms) can grow up to 35 centimetres (14 in) in length. Bloodworms have a creamy pink color, as their pale skin allows their red body fluids that contain hemoglobin to show through. This is the origin of the name ""bloodworm"". At the 'head', bloodworms have four small antennae and small fleshy projections called parapodia running down their bodies. Bloodworms can grow up to in length. They spend most"
"Glycera (annelid) The genus Glycera is a group of polychaetes (bristle worms) commonly known as bloodworms. They are typically found on the bottom of shallow marine waters, and some species (e.g. common bloodworms) can grow up to 35 centimetres (14 in) in length. Bloodworms have a creamy pink color, as their pale skin allows their red body fluids that contain hemoglobin to show through. This is the origin of the name ""bloodworm"". At the 'head', bloodworms have four small antennae and small fleshy projections called parapodia running down their bodies. Bloodworms can grow up to in length. They spend most"
"assassin bug, mosquito, tick, louse, mite, midge, and flea. Hematophagous organisms have been used by physicians for beneficial purposes (hirudotherapy). Some doctors now use leeches to prevent the clotting of blood on some wounds following surgery or trauma. The anticoagulants in the laboratory-raised leeches' saliva keeps fresh blood flowing to the site of an injury, actually preventing infection and increasing chances of full recovery. In a recent study a genetically engineered drug called desmoteplase based on the saliva of ""Desmodus rotundus"" (the vampire bat) was shown to improve recovery in stroke patients. Many human societies also drink blood or use"
"only a few months. During this time, a lump or nodule will form where the worm is located. This most commonly occurs near the site of the mosquito bite, but can also be much farther away. D. tenuis may migrate using the host’s blood, leaving the worm anywhere in the body, even the conjunctiva of the eye. As the body attempts to clear the worm, the nodule may become painful. If the patient continues to experience discomfort, the worm may be surgically excised. Excision is a curative treatment and the worm is diagnosed as D. tenuis easily using its unique"
"bloodworm (kessen-chu) is an unexplained little worm-like creature, which lives in the bloodstream and tissue in a symbiotic way. It heals all wounds acquired by its host, replacing the missing tissue and organs with their own bodies as well as reattaching limbs. Many of the ""scars"" on Manji's body are actually worm flesh, holding Manji together like living sutures. However, it is noted that the bloodworms can only heal wounds acquired during infestation and not ones that were acquired prior (such as Manji's eye). They also do nothing to prevent pain. The only way to kill a bearer of the"
"of the mucous membranes, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath and in cases running a fatal course, dysentery, hemorrhages and edema. The worms suck blood and damage the mucosa. However, the blood loss in the stools is not visibly apparent. Blood tests in early infection often show a rise in numbers of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that is preferentially stimulated by worm infections in tissues (large numbers of eosinophils are also present in the local inflammatory response). Falling blood hemoglobin levels will be seen in cases of prolonged infection with anemia. In contrast to most intestinal helminthiases,"
"says collaborator Alan L. Scott, Ph.D., of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. ""Parasitic worms are a lot like foreign tissue that has been transplanted into the human body. But unlike baboon hearts or pig kidneys, which the immune system quickly recognizes as foreign and rejects, worms can survive for years in the body. Discovering how they do so may someday benefit transplant surgery,"" explained Dr. Scott. Brugia malayi Brugia malayi is a nematode (roundworm), one of the three causative agents of lymphatic filariasis in humans. Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a condition characterized"
"is the cause of urinary schistosomiasis, initially naming it ""Distomum haematobium"". It was subsequently noted that only one of the suckers contained an oral cavity, and in 1856 Heinrich Meckel von Hemsbach proposed that the organism be renamed ""Bilharzia haematobium"". In 1858 Weinland proposed the name ""Schistosoma"" (Greek: 'split body') after the male worms' morphology, and the name ""Schistosoma haematobium"" was officially adopted by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. In 1853 Bilharz became chief of medicine, and in 1856 he was appointed Professor of Anatomy. He died in 1862 from complications of typhoid fever after return to Cairo from"
"Some of these glycan structures might represent antigens which are not exposed to host immune system, and thus have potential for vaccine or drug development. Haemonchus contortus Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber's pole worm, is very common parasite and one of the most pathogenic nematodes of ruminants. Adult worms attach to abomasal mucosa and feed on the blood. This parasite is responsible for anemia, oedema, and death of infected sheep and goats, mainly during summer in warm, humid climates. Females may lay over 10,000 eggs a day, which pass from the host animal in the faeces. After hatching"
"for corneal lesions. Microscopic examination is the most practical diagnostic tool used to identify the ""M. ozzardi"" microfilariae in blood samples from infected patients. Blood smears are usually stained with haematoxylin or Giemsa to visualize the worms under the microscope. Diagnosticians must not rely entirely on blood samples, since microfilariae have also been detected in the skin. Ultrasound may be used to detect the presence of the adult worms. Researchers are currently developing a polymerase chain reaction-based method of detecting the parasites in skin biopsies. Because ""M. ozzardi"" harbors the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia, doxycycline may be an effective therapy to"
"airways. Once larvae break through the alveoli and are swallowed, they enter the gastrointestinal tract and attach to the intestinal mucosa where they mature into adult worms. The hookworms attach to the mucosal lining using their cutting plates which allows them to penetrate blood vessels and feed on the host's blood supply. Each worm consumes 30μl of blood per day. The major issue results from this intestinal blood loss which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia in moderate to heavy infections. Other common symptoms include epigastric pain and tenderness, nausea, exertional dyspnea, pain in lower extremities and in joints, sternal pain,"
"wars which affect the safety of health workers. Dracunculus medinensis Dracunculus medinensis or Guinea worm is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease. The disease is caused by the female which, at up to in length, is among the longest nematodes infecting humans. In contrast, the longest recorded male Guinea worm is only . The common name ""guinea worm"" is derived from the Guinea region of Western Africa. ""Dracunculus medinensis"" (little dragon from Medina) was described in Egypt as early as the 15th century BCE and may have been the ""fiery serpent"" of the Israelites described"
"the worm in several of his patients and related it to their disease. In later times, the condition was noticeably prevalent in the mining industry in England, France, Germany, Belgium, North Queensland, and elsewhere. Italian physician Angelo Dubini was the modern-day discoverer of the worm in 1838 after an autopsy of a peasant woman. Dubini published details in 1843 and identified the species as ""A. duodenale"". Working in the Egyptian medical system in 1852 German physician Theodor Bilharz, drawing upon the work of colleague Wilhelm Griesinger, found these worms during autopsies and went a step further in linking them to"
"Haemonchus contortus Haemonchus contortus, also known as the barber's pole worm, is very common parasite and one of the most pathogenic nematodes of ruminants. Adult worms attach to abomasal mucosa and feed on the blood. This parasite is responsible for anemia, oedema, and death of infected sheep and goats, mainly during summer in warm, humid climates. Females may lay over 10,000 eggs a day, which pass from the host animal in the faeces. After hatching from their eggs, ""H. contortus"" larvae molt several times, resulting in an L3 form that is infectious for the animals. The host ingests these larvae"
"released for up to 10 years. A blood smear is a simple and fairly accurate diagnostic tool, provided the blood sample is taken during the period in the day when the juveniles are in the peripheral circulation. Technicians analyzing the blood smear must be able to distinguish between ""W. bancrofti"" and other parasites potentially present. A polymerase chain reaction test can also be performed to detect a minute fraction, as little as 1 pg, of filarial DNA. Some infected people do not have microfilariae in their blood. As a result, tests aimed to detect antigens from adult worms can be"
"Cysticercus Cysticercus (pl. cysticerci) is a scientific name given to the young tapeworms (larvae) belonging to the genus ""Taenia"". It is a small, sac-like vesicle resembling a bladder; hence, it is also known as bladder worm. It is filled with fluid, in which the main body of the larva, called scolex (which will eventually form the head of the tapeworm). It normally develops from the eggs, which are ingested by the intermediate hosts, such as pigs and cattle. The tissue infection is called cysticercosis. Inside such hosts, they settle in the muscles. When humans eat raw or undercooked pork or"
"visit the veterinarian to get worming, having the feces inspected. Trichuris Trichuris, often referred to as whipworms (which typically refers to ""T. trichiura"" only in medicine, and to any other species in veterinary medicine), is a genus of worms from the roundworm family Trichuridae, which are helminths. The name whipworm refers to the shape of the worm; they look like whips with wider ""handles"" at the posterior end. The name ""Trichocephalus"" is sometimes used for this genus. The genus ""Trichuris"" includes over 20 species, which infect the large intestine of their host, including: A new species - as yet unnamed"
"IgE levels that indicate an active infection with helminth parasites. Due to the migration of microfilariae during the day, the accuracy of a blood test can be increased when samples are taken between 10 am and 2 pm. A Giemsa stain is the most commonly used diagnostic test that uses a thick blood smear to count the microfilariae. Other than blood, microfilariae can also be observed in urine and saliva samples. Adult worms found in the eye can be surgically removed with forceps after being paralyzed with a topical anesthesia. The worm is not paralyzed completely, so if it is"
"their prey. These insects have been used by practitioners of Eastern Medicine for hundreds of years to prevent blood clot formation or thrombosis. However, modern medical research has only recently begun to investigate the drug development potential of blood-feeding insect saliva. These compounds in the saliva of blood feeding insects are capable of increasing the ease of blood feeding by preventing coagulation of platelets around the wound and provide protection against the host’s immune response. Currently, over 1280 different protein families have been associated with the saliva of blood feeding organisms. This diverse range of compounds may include: Currently, some"
"most notably the medical leeches, such as the European species, already mentioned, which is prominent among these. Other medical Hirudiniformes of lesser importance are for example other species of the genus ""Hirudo"", the North American medical leech (""Macrobdella decora""), and the Asian medical leech (""Hirudinaria manillensis""). Among the better-known bloodsucking land leeches are the Indian leech (""Haemadipsa sylvestris"") and the ""yamabiru"" or Japanese Mountain Leech (""Haemadipsa zeylanica""). Hirudiniformes The Hirudiniformes are one of the currently-accepted suborders of the proboscisless leeches (Arhynchobdellida). Their best-known member is the European medical leech, ""Hirudo medicinalis"", and indeed most of the blood-sucking ""worms"" as which"
"Pinworm (parasite) The pinworm (species Enterobius vermicularis), also known as threadworm (in the United Kingdom and Australasia) or seatworm, is a parasitic worm. It is a nematode (roundworm) and a common intestinal parasite or helminth, especially in humans. The medical condition associated with pinworm infestation is known as pinworm infection (enterobiasis) (a type of helminthiasis) or less precisely as oxyuriasis in reference to the family Oxyuridae. Other than human, ""Enterobius vermicularis"" were reported from bonnet macaque. Other species seen in primates include ""Enterobius buckleyi"" in Orangutan and ""Enterobius anthropopitheci"" in chimpanzee. ""Enterobius vermicularis"" is common in human children and transmitted"
"Dracunculus medinensis Dracunculus medinensis or Guinea worm is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease. The disease is caused by the female which, at up to in length, is among the longest nematodes infecting humans. In contrast, the longest recorded male Guinea worm is only . The common name ""guinea worm"" is derived from the Guinea region of Western Africa. ""Dracunculus medinensis"" (little dragon from Medina) was described in Egypt as early as the 15th century BCE and may have been the ""fiery serpent"" of the Israelites described in the Bible. In the mid-19th century, the"
"Hematophagy Hematophagy (sometimes spelled haematophagy or hematophagia) is the practice by certain animals of feeding on blood (from the Greek words αἷμα ""haima"" ""blood"" and φάγειν ""phagein"" ""to eat""). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious proteins and lipids that can be taken without great effort, hematophagy has evolved as a preferred form of feeding for many small animals, such as worms and arthropods. Some intestinal nematodes, such as Ancylostomids, feed on blood extracted from the capillaries of the gut, and about 75 percent of all species of leeches (e.g., ""Hirudo medicinalis""), a free-living worm, are hematophagous. Some"
"counted. It is most commonly used to monitor parasites in horses and other grazing and livestock animals. The Baermann method is similar but requires more specialized equipment and more time and is typically used to diagnose lungworm and threadworm. Haematological examinations involve examining the blood of animals to determine the presence of parasites. Blood parasites tend to inhabit the erythrocytes or white blood cells and are most likely to be detected during the acute phase of infection. Veterinary parasitologists use blood smears, which involve placing a drop of blood onto a slide and spreading it over the surface in a"
"death. In humans, the only known cause is ""Dracunculus medinensis"". The worm is about one to two millimeters wide, and an adult female is 60 to 100 centimeters long (males are much shorter at ). Outside humans, the young form can survive up to three weeks, during which they must be eaten by water fleas to continue to develop. The larva inside water fleas may survive up to four months. Thus, for the disease to remain in an area, it must occur each year in humans. A diagnosis of the disease can usually be made based on the signs and"
"identified: the aspartic protease-hemoglobinase APR-1, the cysteine protease-hemoglobinase CP-2, and a glutathione S-transferase. The term ""hookworm"" is sometimes used to refer to hookworm infection. A hookworm is a type of parasitic worm (helminth). Hookworm infection Hookworm infection is an infection by a type of intestinal parasite known as a hookworm. Initially, itching and a rash may occur at the site of infection. Those only affected by a few worms may show no symptoms. Those infected by many worms may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and tiredness. The mental and physical development of children may be affected. Anemia may result."